Broken Things (Faded Photograph Series) (18 page)

“Oh, Logan, I’m sorry. But don’t you see? That’s all the more reason to leave that part of your past alone. Your biological mother’s love is not love worth finding.” She moved closer. “But mine is.”

The very breath left Logan’s lungs. “Maybe you’ve got a point. Maybe I need to put my energies into something else. Something more constructive.”

Obvious disappointed crept across Marilee’s face. “Such as the youth group?”

Logan steeled himself not to grin. “Mmm, no. Something much more important and time consuming.”

“Oh? Like what?

He swiveled so he faced her, wishing he could forestall this moment until they weren’t in a parking lot. Except he’d burst if he didn’t pop the question. “See, I want to…well, it’s…Oh, man, I don’t know how to say this…”

Marilee tipped her head and scrutinized his every feature. “What don’t know you how to say, Logan? Is it about us?”

“It sure is.”

She stood there, gaping at him, and her eyes filled. “You don’t want to see me anymore? Is there someone else you’re interested in?”

Logan set his hands on her shoulders. “No! It’s nothing like that. Marilee, didn’t you hear what I said before? You were a great help to me tonight. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

The wounded frown slowly disappeared from her face. Pushing himself off the end of the car, Logan walked around to the passenger side. He couldn’t put it off any longer. Digging out the keys from his pocket, he unlocked the door and then the glove compartment. He located the ring box and stuffed it in the sleeve of his sweatshirt. That done, he closed the car and strode back around to where Marilee stood beneath the lamppost.

“Okay, this isn’t the way I had it planned, but I’ve got an idea. We’ll dissociate a little. Close your eyes.”

“Huh?”

“Close your eyes.”

She did as he bid her.

“All right, now imagine that we’re in your parents’ upscale apartment. The sun is streaming through the patio doors and―”

She inhaled sharply. “Are there red roses on the piano by any chance?” She peeked at him through one opened eye.

Logan grinned. “Yeah, as a matter of fact there are.”

She stared at him wide-eyed. “Logan, what’s going on?”

“Shh…close your eyes.”

After a sweet little pout, she complied.

“Okay, now imagine that there’s soft, romantic music playing on your dad’s stereo system.”

“Is it Bach or Chopin…Mozart?”

“Whatever.”

Marilee laughed softly.

Logan took a step closer and gazed down into her face. Even in the dark and with her eyes closed, he could make out Marilee’s every feature. In that moment, she reminded him of Sleeping Beauty and he was hard pressed to squelch his desire to kiss her.

Just then, her eyes fluttered open. “You were so quiet that I thought maybe you ran off and left me here looking like an idiot with my eyes closed.”

“No…no youth group pranks tonight.” Logan swallowed hard. He’d had a nice, little speech all worked out, but suddenly he couldn’t recall any of it. He tried to think of how to begin.

Marilee put her hand around his. Her fingers felt ice-cold.

The poor woman is freezing to death and I’m tongue tied.

“Logan, why don’t you just speak from your heart.” She whispered the suggestion. “Just say whatever’s on your mind and we’ll go from there.”

“Okay.” He pulled in a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. “Marilee, I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

Marilee stared at him, uncertain that she’d heard him correctly. “Marry you..?”

“Yes, marry me. I had this all planned and your parents were in on it. Tonight’s the night I decided to propose. Unfortunately, Susan had her accident and…well, you know the rest.” Logan extracted the ring box from his sleeve. “Here.” He lifted her hand and placed a velvety ring box in her palm.

Accepting the gift, Marilee stood back into the light so she could have a better look. She opened the box and, seeing the engagement ring of her dreams, a squeal of delight escaped her.

“I hope you’ll forgive the less-than-romantic setting.” Logan stepped forward and took the box. He removed the ring. “But having made up my mind, I just couldn’t seem to let the night go without ‘popping the question’ as your dad referred to it.”

Marilee lifted her left hand and Logan slipped the ring onto her finger.

“I realize it’s too big. You’ll have to get it sized.”

“Oh…oh, my!”

“Well?”

“It’s gorgeous. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.” She looked back at him. “Did my mother tell you about it?”

Logan nodded. “And our Heavenly Father provided the funds for it through a means that I still can’t quite get over. I’ll tell you the whole story another time.”

“I’d love to hear it.”

“So? Will you marry me or not?”

“Yes. A thousand times yes!”

Caught up in the moment, Marilee threw her arms around Logan’s neck. He laughed and twirled her around.

“I love you, Logan.”

He set her back down on her feet. “Well, I hope so. You just agreed to spend the rest of your life with me.”

“I mean every word.”

He cupped her face, losing himself in her starry-eyed gaze. And her lips…would they feel as soft as they looked?

He bent his head closer.

“No, Logan.” She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back.

His senses returned. “Sorry.”

“No need. I’d enjoy it more than you know.”

Logan’s respect for Marilee soared.

“So what about a wedding date?”

He grinned. “What are you doing next weekend?”

She rolled her eyes. “You are so silly.”

“Silly? I’m serious!”

“Weddings take at least a year to plan. Sometimes longer.”

“What?” Logan brought his chin back. “I’m not waiting a year to marry you.”

“Logan―”

“No way. Look what just happened. I was ready to kiss you like you’ve never been kissed before.”

“Lower your voice. Someone might hear you.”

He scanned the lot, but didn’t see a soul around. Still, she had a point.

“Marilee, can you imagine the temptations we’ll face being engaged for a year?” Logan shook his head. “Uh-uh.”

“My mother will be so disappointed if she can’t plan my wedding. As for the temptation aspect, we’ll pray. God will help us.”

“Yes, He will. I have no doubt. It’s me.” Logan didn’t know how to explain his jumble of emotions and finally gave up trying. “I can’t resist you, Marilee. Can’t you see that?”

“Really?” She looked pleased by the confession.

Logan scratched his head. “That’s not a good thing, Marilee. Not yet, anyway.” He thought it over. If her mother had to plan a wedding, so be it. “I’ll give you three months.” He sat on the trunk of his car again. “I think you can plan a beautiful wedding in three months.”

Marilee folded her arms, looking stubborn.

“Listen, we’ve got the church, a pastor. All we need is to find a free weekend. That’ll be the hardest part.”

“What? Planning a wedding is very involved.”

Leaning forward, he took hold of her sleeve, and pulled her closer to him. Cupping her chin, he forced her gaze to meet his. “Are you in love with me, or in love with the idea of getting married? It’s me you’re going to have to live with.”

“Of course I’m in love with you, Logan.” Sincerity shone in her lovely eyes. She removed his hand from her chin and gave it a quick squeeze. “I feel badly that you questioned my feelings.”

“I was trying to make a point, that’s all.”

They stared at each other. Logan refused to budge.

“All right. Point taken.” Marilee clung to his hand. “I’ve got the man of my dreams, the engagement ring of my dreams―”

“I bought the complete wedding set.”

“You did? Oh, wow!”

Logan chuckled, pleased that she was so delighted.

“Three months it is, Logan Callahan.” Marilee smiled and held out her hand, ogling the ring on her finger. “In three short months we’ll be Mr. and Mrs. Logan Callahan.”

* * *

Cynthia had to admit that service had gotten a little better around here since her angel arrived on the scene. The only thing that had freaked her out were the two cops who entered her room, asking all sorts of questions about the night the CNA hit her. While the policemen had been polite enough, cops in general made Cynthia uneasy. They reminded her too much of her first ex-husband.

It was at that moment another portion of her life flashed before her, and Cynthia tried in vain to will away the image of a brown-eyed infant whose pudgy arms reached out for her as he sat in his crib.

“Nurse! Nurse!” She thrashed from side to side, but the memory wouldn’t leave her. “Nurse!”

“What is it?” A man opened her door.

“Medicine. I need more medicine!”

* * *

Jack couldn’t sleep. His leg ached like crazy, but that was the least of his problems. There were issues at work, namely the new police chief who seemed bent on driving him off the force. The rumor flying around the department was that Chief Anderson wanted a new breed of officers who he could “mold and shape” into Oakland Park’s finest. Word coming down through the chain-of-command was that here wasn’t room for “set in their ways” veterans―even dedicated ones, like Jack. Two of his buddies had been reduced to trivial administrative tasks, and now Jack was checking parking meters.

Well, he wouldn’t put up with it. He’d opt for retirement, although it galled him to give Anderson his way.

And then there was Allie. Her marriage sounded as terrible and trying as his has been.

Yeah, you told me so
. The memory of Allie’s leaving that day back in ’69 replayed through his mind for the umpteenth time.

Finally, he’d had enough reminiscing. With an irritable groan, he threw off his covers and climbed out of bed. When his leg bothered him everything else in the world did too.

He made his way into the kitchen, deciding on some warm milk and a couple of Ibuprofen tablets. He found Logan sitting at the table working on his laptop computer.

“What are you doing awake?” Jack reached for a mug.

“Finishing up my Bible study lesson for tomorrow…er, make that today.” He grinned. “By the way, Marilee said she’d marry me.”

“I’m not surprised. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. So what are
you
doing awake at two a.m.?”

“Thinking. I should know better by now. Thinking can be a dangerous thing.” Opening the fridge, Jack lifted out of the container of milk and poured some into the cup.

“I know it’s none of my business, but, you know me. I can’t help asking anyway. What are you thinking so hard about that you can’t sleep?”

“Work, mostly. I’m taking a couple of vacation days…right after I put in for my retirement first thing Monday morning. My decision’s made.”

“Things have gotten that bad, eh?”

“Yep.”

“Sorry to hear that. I know your career means everything to you.”

Jack stuck his milk into the microwave and watched the numbers count down from forty-five. In those passing seconds, Logan’s remark began to fester.
I know your career means everything…

Beeee-ep
.

Jack removed his warm milk. “Listen, I was a lousy excuse for a father and I’m sorry, okay? Life hasn’t exactly been all peaches and cream for me, you know.”

Logan gave him a puzzled look. “Where’s that coming from?”

“You. You insinuated that I’ve always put my career before you, and you’re right. I did. I knew I was a good cop, but I wasn’t a good father, so I threw myself into what I did best.” He paused, his heart heavy. Now he wasn’t even a good cop.

“Dad, we’ve been over this. I’m not angry with you. Not anymore.”

“Well, you should be.”

“Why?”

“Because all the wrongs I did can never be undone.” Jack sipped his warm milk and grimaced. “Why am I drinking this? I hate this stuff!” He poured the remainder down the sink’s drain.

“Dad, I forgive you for any mistakes you made raising me. But I think I turned out okay regardless.” Logan stood and walked over to where Jack was rinsing out his cup. “Now it’s time to forgive yourself. Let’s move on.” He grinned. “I’m getting married in a few months!”

Jack turned off the faucet. “A few months? Why the rush?”

“Why wait?” Logan countered. “If I had my way, we’d elope this week.”

Jack grinned and opened the cupboard containing the Ibuprofen bottle. Like Logan, once he made up his mind to do something, it was as good as done. “You really are a chip off the ol’ block, aren’t you?”

“That’s what the elderly ladies in the grocery store tell me.”

Chuckling, Jack shook out a few pills and popped them into his mouth. He washed them down with a gulp of water. “Just don’t mess up like your old man, got it?”

Logan gave him a confident smile. “Got it.”

Chapter Fourteen

Just as Evan predicted, the media had a field day reporting on what it dubbed “nursing home abuse.” Arbor Springs, among other facilities, were fair game and Monday morning brought dozens of phone calls into Allie’s office. She did her best to handle each one according to the script she and the board members of Lakeland Enterprises created.

The accused employee had been suspended without pay, pending police investigation.

An internal evaluation of all staff and a reorganization of each department were in process to ensure the safety of all patients.

While most people with loved ones in Arbor Springs seemed satisfied with the explanation, several opted for transfers to other facilities. Allie had no choice but to let those patients go, knowing all the while that their leaving meant less revenue and peeved board members.

At noon Allie forwarded her phone to a voice messaging system and took her lunch in the dining room. She sat with the supervisor of the billing department, Gordy Henderson. A jovial African-American man, Gordy exuded optimism and welcomed Allie’s presence at Arbor Springs to the point of offering his assistance. Moreover, Allie discovered he was a Christian and a devoted husband and father―traits she respected. In short, he was fast becoming an ally.